What New York City Looked Like the Year You Were Born

Ah New York City, the urban epicenter that rules the world—or so every New Yorker thinks. Take a look back in time to see what the influential melting pot looked like the year you were born and how it has transformed into the visionary, yet raw and real, city that you know and love today.

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1930

Beams of sunlight streaming through the windows at .

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1931

Aerial view of the newly built that stood over Manhattan from 1,250 feet high—the world's tallest tower until 1972 when the World Trade Center took the title.

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1932

Construction workers eat their lunch atop a steel beam, 800 feet above the ground, at the building site of the RCA Building in Rockefeller Center.

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1933

J.P. Morgan & Co. stands like a fortress on corner of Broad and Wall Street.

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1934

A striking view of St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue between 50th Street and 51st Street.

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1935

Despite the cold weather, a large crowd witnessed the dedication of Astor Housing Project, on Avenue A and 3rd Street. It was the first of the government's model housing developments to be completed.

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1939

Passengers on board the Cunard White Star liner Queen Mary view the New York skyline as the ship docks in Manhattan at dawn.

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1940

The Rockefeller Center roller skating rink opens to the public.

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1942

Crowds line up on the Aviation Terrace of the Land Plane Administration Building to view two British fighter planes, which are on display at New York Municipal Airport (now LaGuardia Airport).

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1945

The aircraft carriers USS Midway (CV-41) and the USS Enterprise (CV-6) of the United States Navy make their way to the post World War 2 Navy Day review by President Truman on October 27, 1945 in Manhattan.

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1947

View of during a blizzard in New York, New York in December of '47.

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1950

The Empire State Building gets an upgrade—an antenna tower over 200 feet tall.

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1951

Cars gather to watch an outdoor from inside their cars at the Whitestone Bridge Drive-in Movie Theater in the Bronx on June 20, 1951.

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1952

Horse-drawn carriages line 59th Street in New York City, waiting for a fare.

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1953

View of pedestrians passing under theater marquees along West 42nd Street in Times Square.

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1954

A sky-high view of Times Square looking north from 43d St.

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1955

The beach at Coney Island with the ever-so-popular parachute ride visible in the background.

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1957

The theater and billboard lights of Times Square illuminate the streets on a rainy night.

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1958

View of the ocean liner, the Queen Elizabeth of the Cunard line, as it sails into port with the Chrysler Building, the Chanin Building, and 500 Fifth Avenue spotted in the background.

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1960

Full-length view of the Allied Chemical Tower reduced to its steel framework during renovation in Times Square.

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1963

Girls play in the Washington Square fountain to beat the summer heat.

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1965

The stunning gothic interior of the original (architects McKim, Mead, and White in 1910) shows workers and commuters in a cordoned off center section of the main floor right before the station's demolition.

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1966

The beginning stages of Madison Square Garden as it starts to rise over Pennsylvania Station.

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1967

Wildcat picketers on 55th Street take the streets during a taxi strike at Taxi Garage, Inc in November of '67.

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1969

A colossal Snoopy balloon travels through Times Square during the 43rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

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1970

Women band together to rally for the Women's Liberation demonstration on Fifth Avenue and Wall Street.

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1971

A large Christmas peace message reads 'War Is Over !' from John Lennon and Yoko Ono on a billboard in New York City. The message, protesting against US involvement in the Vietnam War, was simultaneously displayed at Montreal, Toronto, Los Angeles and six European cities.

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1973

The physical effects of industrialization are seen as smog partially obscures the city skyline.

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1974

Some things never change. Yellow cabs wait in line at LaGuardia Airport during spring travels in March '74.

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1975

Andy Kaufman takes the stage on October 11th for a guest performance on the very first episode of Saturday Night Live.

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